Looking over the realistic candidates, as well as the ones being targeted, it’s easy to see that the one giant issue with getting rid of Gus is there is no clear-cut person to replace him, and no one person making the call.
If you listen to people who are generally in the know, Jimmy Rane has had his eyes set exclusively on Hugh Freeze. Hugh is interested and has had discussions using intermediaries. Freeze would prefer Auburn to Tennessee, but Tennessee is aggressively coming after him and their power players are on the same page. The same cannot be said for Auburn, where many of our trustees are only going to bless firing Gus if his replacement has a great image, or at least no glaring stains.
So, consider Freeze out, because after Rane, there is little support.
I’m told Rane has now turned his attention to Billy Napier, as he’s a hot name and would be more open to “advice” from someone like Rane. Others are looking at Luke Fickell, but his non-existent ties to the South are a major concern.
The logical assumption is that Mario Cristobal would be the top candidate once you get past Freeze, but I do not believe that to be the case, mostly due to his record this year. Personally, I believe he’s the best man for the job.
I am also told, that without a doubt, he would take the Auburn job if offered (obviously certain conditions would have to be met).
Also, because of the “one-time transfer” rule the NCAA is expected to pass in January, he would transform our roster, offering immediate playing time to the best OL and DL looking to make a move, and with his track record, expect MC to have no problem filling other spots where we have glaring holes.
Want more? Here’s the "TL;DNR" list for those interested:
He’s an elite recruiter. As a native of Miami and local legend, Auburn must recruit Florida better than we have under Gus. Mario makes this happen. In spades.
MC was a player for Jimmy Johnson at the U of M (winning two NC rings) and has a Master’s Degree from Miami. His first coaching stint was there, then he was with Schiano at Rutgers (OL coach and elite recruiter, where he put players into the league and helped fuel their resurgence).
He went back to Miami for a few years (again, putting players into the NFL), and then he took the gig at FIU, one of the worst programs in college football—coming off of probation and a winless season. In just a few years they won a school record 8 games, had won the Sunbelt Tile for the first time, and MC was named Sunbelt coach of the year. They did lose ground and he was fired, most would say prematurely, but after the switch they quickly faded into complete oblivion.
MC was then picked by Saban to be his OL coach and Recruiting Coordinator. He was at Alabama for 4 years and dominated in recruiting, had All-American’s every year, his OL led the way for Derrick Henry as he broke Hershel Walker’s rushing record, had multiple OL drafted to the NFL, an Outland Winner, a RImington Trophy winner, and was named recruiter of the year multiple times (I believe every year he was there, but not 100% sure on that).
“Dating back to his arrival at Alabama, Cristobal has led or been part of a staff that has landed a top-15 recruiting class nationally seven consecutive years with six of those being the top in that respective conference and six in the top 10. His 2015 class at Alabama included 2018 NFL first-round picks Minkah Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins), Daron Payne (Washington Redskins) and Calvin Ridley (Atlanta Falcons).”
Fv#king BEAST.
After moving to Oregon, he was quickly names Head Coach after Taggart bolted for FSU. There, he will soon end with the #3 Signing Class in the country, after going #13, #6, and #9 the last three seasons.
Last year he won the PAC-12 and the Rose Bowl.
This year, after losing his QB to the draft (#6 pick), they were devastated by Opt-Outs, mostly due to the PAC-12 cancelling the season. Once they reversed course, many of his starters had already signed with agents. His projected Top 5 NFL Draft Pick (an OT) led that pack, as well as 3 of the 4 starters in his secondary. I believe he lost a total of 7 players that would have started or gotten considerable playing time. So, if you just look at the scoreboard, you don’t know the complete story. Disappointing season, but a win Saturday vs. Washington puts them into the PAC-12 Championship game.
Also, he didn’t get to pick the staff he wanted at Oregon, as many were holdovers that Taggart didn’t take with him, but the AD wanted to retain. Needless to say, MC will build a staff with strong SEC ties. This man knows what it takes to recruit and he will put together a staff of guys who have been in the trenches in this conference and have made names for themselves.
We love to throw around the term "wolf" on this board. We have a wolf in basketball, we've had an assistant or two in football who have been wolves (we have NONE right now), but if we get Mario, we will officially have multiple wolves on our staff, with a strong-ass wolf in charge.
Auburn has never had a pack of wolves on the recruiting trail.
There are other reasons, like knowing Saban and where his bones are buried, but that doesn’t mean much to me. Saban will be gone soon and we need to be ready to capitalize on that disruption. MC will bring in elite talent; it’ all he’s ever done. He’s polished, has experience as a P5 HC, and wants the job. But he's about to sign a new deal at Oregon, so the time is now.
One last thing-- to me, he stands between Saban and Dabo; the two best in the game. Saban knows defense and is an elite recruiter. Dabo knows people and how to recruit, but has never even been a coordinator. Mario knows more about coaching than Dabo ever will, but he’s polished and business-like, which is why Saban loved him. It's the best of both worlds, and he's proving that at Oregon.
Like when we hired Pat Dye, this one can’t be messed up. Gus has to go, and Mario Cristobal can be our next Pat Dye. We need a coach to unite our fanbase and Mario is the one.
If you listen to people who are generally in the know, Jimmy Rane has had his eyes set exclusively on Hugh Freeze. Hugh is interested and has had discussions using intermediaries. Freeze would prefer Auburn to Tennessee, but Tennessee is aggressively coming after him and their power players are on the same page. The same cannot be said for Auburn, where many of our trustees are only going to bless firing Gus if his replacement has a great image, or at least no glaring stains.
So, consider Freeze out, because after Rane, there is little support.
I’m told Rane has now turned his attention to Billy Napier, as he’s a hot name and would be more open to “advice” from someone like Rane. Others are looking at Luke Fickell, but his non-existent ties to the South are a major concern.
The logical assumption is that Mario Cristobal would be the top candidate once you get past Freeze, but I do not believe that to be the case, mostly due to his record this year. Personally, I believe he’s the best man for the job.
I am also told, that without a doubt, he would take the Auburn job if offered (obviously certain conditions would have to be met).
Also, because of the “one-time transfer” rule the NCAA is expected to pass in January, he would transform our roster, offering immediate playing time to the best OL and DL looking to make a move, and with his track record, expect MC to have no problem filling other spots where we have glaring holes.
Want more? Here’s the "TL;DNR" list for those interested:
He’s an elite recruiter. As a native of Miami and local legend, Auburn must recruit Florida better than we have under Gus. Mario makes this happen. In spades.
MC was a player for Jimmy Johnson at the U of M (winning two NC rings) and has a Master’s Degree from Miami. His first coaching stint was there, then he was with Schiano at Rutgers (OL coach and elite recruiter, where he put players into the league and helped fuel their resurgence).
He went back to Miami for a few years (again, putting players into the NFL), and then he took the gig at FIU, one of the worst programs in college football—coming off of probation and a winless season. In just a few years they won a school record 8 games, had won the Sunbelt Tile for the first time, and MC was named Sunbelt coach of the year. They did lose ground and he was fired, most would say prematurely, but after the switch they quickly faded into complete oblivion.
MC was then picked by Saban to be his OL coach and Recruiting Coordinator. He was at Alabama for 4 years and dominated in recruiting, had All-American’s every year, his OL led the way for Derrick Henry as he broke Hershel Walker’s rushing record, had multiple OL drafted to the NFL, an Outland Winner, a RImington Trophy winner, and was named recruiter of the year multiple times (I believe every year he was there, but not 100% sure on that).
“Dating back to his arrival at Alabama, Cristobal has led or been part of a staff that has landed a top-15 recruiting class nationally seven consecutive years with six of those being the top in that respective conference and six in the top 10. His 2015 class at Alabama included 2018 NFL first-round picks Minkah Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins), Daron Payne (Washington Redskins) and Calvin Ridley (Atlanta Falcons).”
Fv#king BEAST.
After moving to Oregon, he was quickly names Head Coach after Taggart bolted for FSU. There, he will soon end with the #3 Signing Class in the country, after going #13, #6, and #9 the last three seasons.
Last year he won the PAC-12 and the Rose Bowl.
This year, after losing his QB to the draft (#6 pick), they were devastated by Opt-Outs, mostly due to the PAC-12 cancelling the season. Once they reversed course, many of his starters had already signed with agents. His projected Top 5 NFL Draft Pick (an OT) led that pack, as well as 3 of the 4 starters in his secondary. I believe he lost a total of 7 players that would have started or gotten considerable playing time. So, if you just look at the scoreboard, you don’t know the complete story. Disappointing season, but a win Saturday vs. Washington puts them into the PAC-12 Championship game.
Also, he didn’t get to pick the staff he wanted at Oregon, as many were holdovers that Taggart didn’t take with him, but the AD wanted to retain. Needless to say, MC will build a staff with strong SEC ties. This man knows what it takes to recruit and he will put together a staff of guys who have been in the trenches in this conference and have made names for themselves.
We love to throw around the term "wolf" on this board. We have a wolf in basketball, we've had an assistant or two in football who have been wolves (we have NONE right now), but if we get Mario, we will officially have multiple wolves on our staff, with a strong-ass wolf in charge.
Auburn has never had a pack of wolves on the recruiting trail.
There are other reasons, like knowing Saban and where his bones are buried, but that doesn’t mean much to me. Saban will be gone soon and we need to be ready to capitalize on that disruption. MC will bring in elite talent; it’ all he’s ever done. He’s polished, has experience as a P5 HC, and wants the job. But he's about to sign a new deal at Oregon, so the time is now.
One last thing-- to me, he stands between Saban and Dabo; the two best in the game. Saban knows defense and is an elite recruiter. Dabo knows people and how to recruit, but has never even been a coordinator. Mario knows more about coaching than Dabo ever will, but he’s polished and business-like, which is why Saban loved him. It's the best of both worlds, and he's proving that at Oregon.
Like when we hired Pat Dye, this one can’t be messed up. Gus has to go, and Mario Cristobal can be our next Pat Dye. We need a coach to unite our fanbase and Mario is the one.
